Drivers inconvenienced after Greenwell Springs Road knocked out by flood water

CENTRAL, La. (WAFB) - “It’s very inconvenient, it put a time hold on a lot of things,” said one motorist.

“Well I have to go back around to Denham Springs, so it’s going to be a little inconvenient,” said Gerald Pourciau.

The Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) closed the road half a mile north from where Greenwell Springs and Hooper Road meet. Rodney Mallet, DOTD communications director, says it was necessary after rain and flood water overwhelmed the drainage under the bridge.

“That drain pipe had been there for a long time. We knew that it was getting old. When we saw it start to dip, we had material on hand, and we were able to close that real quick,” said Mallet.

Some people from the community say they believe infrastructural issues should be addressed prior to major storms.

“Our bridges should be checked regularly, and there is a way that they can check to see how stable and durable they are, but it’s a matter of doing it,” said Jerry Arthur. “We just kind of try to monitor where these pipes are, where the flow is, where is the most probably chance where we’re going to have an issue and take care of it as it occurs."

(Source: WAFB)

DOTD has started repairs on the road. Mallet says they expect to finish the project by May 17.

Parents of students attending Advantage Charter Academy are fuming Friday night after being told their kids will be held back and will need to attend a 16-day summer school program in order to advance to the next grade.